Honorable Mayor and Members of the Hermosa Beach City Council
Regular Meeting of November 28, 2023
Title
CITY COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 2024
(Executive Assistant Ann Yang)
Body
Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Staff recommends City Council:
1. Review and provide direction on the changes to the Regular Meeting dates and proposed dates for Special Meetings;
2. Approve the City Council meeting schedule for 2024 (Attachment 1); and
3. Approve a resolution establishing the meeting dates and times of the City Council for calendar year 2024 (Attachment 2).
Body
Executive Summary:
Annually, City Council reviews and approves its meeting schedule for the upcoming year. City Council meets regularly on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, with the exception of the months of August and December when Council meets only once. In addition to the Regular Meetings, Study Sessions and Special Meetings are listed for Council consideration. Upon completion of its review, staff recommends City Council adopt a resolution to formally establish the meeting dates and times of the City Council for the calendar year 2024.
Background:
At its June 23, 2020 meeting, City Council adopted Resolution 20-7245 temporarily establishing earlier meeting times of 5:00 p.m. for Closed Sessions and 6:00 p.m. for Regular City Council Meetings during the pendency of the COVID-19 emergency.
If approved, the proposed resolution (Attachment 2) would supersede the meeting dates and times included in Resolution Nos. 15-6988 (Attachment 3) and 20-7245 (Attachment 4). Approving (Attachment 1) means the City would not need to cancel meetings that the City Council has already established would not be held. The City would also be able to continue holding its meetings at 5:00 p.m. for Closed Session and 6:00 p.m. for Open Session past the COVID-19 emergency.
Regular Tuesday Meetings
City Council meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, with the exception of the months of August and December when Council meets only once to accommodate the summer vacation and winter holiday seasons. This break in the Council meeting/staff report cycle permits staff to concentrate on “work in progress” and is a very productive time.
Study Session Meetings
Study session place holders are added, separate from Regular Council meeting dates, to allow sufficient time for discussion of study session items. The proposed dates and topics are tentative and can be cancelled if not needed.
Discussion:
Occasional breaks in the Council meeting/staff report cycle permit staff time to concentrate on “work in progress” and is a very productive time. The following 2024 Regular Meeting dates are recommended to be dark due to conflicts with conferences, holidays, or to allow for additional staff work time.
The Special Meeting dates listed below are on the 2024 Schedule for consideration and approval.
General Plan Consistency:
This report and associated recommendation have been evaluated for their consistency with the City’s General Plan. Relevant Policies are listed below:
Governance Element
Goal 1. A high degree of transparency and integrity in the decision-making process.
Policies:
• 1.1 Open meetings. Maintain the community’s trust by holding meetings in which decisions are being made, that are open and available for all community members to attend, participate, or view remotely.
• 1.2 Strategic planning. Regularly discuss and set priorities at the City Council and management level to prioritize work programs and staffing needs.
• 1.4 Consensus oriented. Strive to utilize a consensus-oriented decision-making process.
Goal 2. The community is active and engaged in decision-making processes.
Policies:
• 2.3 Public participation guidelines. Establish parameters and guidelines to ensure public participation is promoted through diverse methods.
• 2.4 Public forums. Host periodic public forums on issues important to the community, facilitating these forums with the purpose of guiding City policy.
• 2.7 Major planning efforts. Require major planning efforts, policies, or projects to include a public engagement effort.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action.
Attachments:
1. Draft City Council Meeting Schedule for 2024
2. Draft Resolution Establishing Meeting Dates and Times for 2024
3. Resolution 15-6988
4. Resolution 20-7245
Respectfully Submitted by: Ann Yang, Executive Assistant
Concur: Myra Maravilla, City Clerk
Noted for Fiscal Schedule: Viki Copeland, Finance Director
Legal Review: Patrick Donegan, City Attorney
Approved: Suja Lowenthal, City Manager